Confess to the Chief of Nursing.

You raise your head from the little table in the phone carrel and breathe deeply, composing yourself again. You send a text message to the Chief of Nursing that you need to see her urgently on a personnel matter. She accepts your request.

Maggie Baxter is an expatriate Scotswoman of about your age, her blonde hair simply cut and silvered with gray.

"Gloria, come in," she greets you. She closes her office door and puts her hand on your shoulder, helping you into the visitor's chair. She puts her desk phone and mobile handset on mute so she can listen to you.

You take a deep breath and tell the story of today, including how you and June Phillips were inspired by Mary Forbes' open sexual affection to her husband Brian, who's on your ward with a broken leg, that Mary talked you and June into having a lesbian encounter on shift.

Maggie looks at you, disbelieving.

You shake your head. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's true," you say. "The reason I came straight to you is that I think Ms. Palatino, you know, the HR representative in the Administration Office, found out and wants to **** me."

"Why would Gina Palatino want to **** you?" Maggie says.

"She's, well, she's the only out lesbian I really know on the hospital staff," you say. "There have been several recent incidents of inappropriate lesbian encounters among staff, including between a nurse and a nursing student under her supervision that resulted in both of them being admitted to Emergency. I got in touch with Gina because I thought she might know if there's some connection among everything that's been going on. Instead, she doesn't have time for me, but she has Clara give me this."

You hand Maggie the envelope. She reads the sticky note carefully -- Nurse B.- open in private. Talk tomorrow. -Gina. -- then the printed note -- Your husband. Your position. Your career. 6am. Staff gym. Ladies' lockers. -- then examines the printed-out pictures of you with your head between June Phillips' thighs, with both of you easily identifiable.

Maggie's brow furrows, and she rubs her temples with her fingertips. "You're a veteran nurse, and a good one. My best," she says. "Now..."